Soul Power

In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The pipe dream of musician Hugh Masekela and producer Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award winning documentary “When We Were Kings.”

Soul Power is a verité documentary, entirely composed of footage shot in 1974 at the legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ’74”). It shows the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century.

Soul Power has been crafted from the extensive footage which remained after the making of When We Were Kings, which famously documented the epic title fight, but only briefly touched upon the Zaire ’74 music festival. This footage has remained vaulted for the past 35 years, unused, unseen, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens), Paul Goldsmith (Rust Never Sleeps), Kevin Keating (Harlan County USA), and Roderick Young (Wattstax), Soul Power finally provides today’s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory, restored in HD and with incredible sound quality. An unbridled musical journey for the ages.

Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Director

President of Antidote Films in New York, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte currently completed several documentaries, including SOUL POWER (produced and directed by Levy-Hinte) and DUNGEON MASTERS, both of which premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. He is also preparing production for THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, written and to be directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

Most recently Levy-Hinte produced ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED, the widely acclaimed documentary feature by director Marina Zenovich, which enjoyed premieres at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and 2008 Cannes Film Festival. The film was broadcast on HBO in June 2008, and released in U.S. theaters by Think Film, with international release coming soon from The Weinstein Company.

Additionally, Levy-Hinte produced the critically acclaimed eco-horror thriller, THE LAST WINTER, (released by IFC Films) and the documentary BOMB IT, a comprehensive investigation of graffiti, covering street art from all around the world. THE LAST WINTER premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival while BOMB IT premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival’s World Documentary Competition.

Selected as one of Variety’s “Producers to Watch” in 2003, Jeffrey has also produced many other critically successful and award-winning films, including THE HAWK IS DYING, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, THIRTEEN, and LAUREL CANYON. Additionally, Jeffrey edited the 1996 Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS, has served as a juror for the Independent Spirit Awards, and is Board Chair for Independent Features Project (IFP) of New York. Born in Santa Monica, California, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte is a graduate of Cal State, Northridge and the University of Michigan.

Leon Gast, Producer

Leon Gast is a director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor. He is known for making such seminal documentaries as HELL’S ANGELS FOREVER and the Oscar-winning chronicle of the 1974 landmark fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, WHEN WE WERE KINGS. During the 1960s and 1970s, Gast became famous for his still photography and his work appeared in such magazines as Vogue, Esquire, and Harper’s Bazaar. Other works include 1 LOVE, SALSA: THE FILM and CELIA CRUZ AND THE FANIA ALL-STARS IN AFRICA.

OUR LATIN THING, which he directed and did cinematography for, won the Truer Than Fiction Award and WHEN WE WERE KINGS won the Independent Spirit Award. Gast is currently directing PAPARAZZO: THE UNWELCOME ART OF RON GALELLA, produced by Adam Schlesinger and Linda Saffire, written by Roger Rosenblatt, photographed by Don Lenzer, and edited by Doug Abel.

David Sonenberg, Producer

A Harvard Law School graduate, David Sonenberg, began the music management label DAS communications. He has managed Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, The Fugees, the Spin Doctors, Keke Palmer, Joan Osborne, John Legend, The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie and many other successful acts. Sonenberg has produced several films, most notably the 1996 Academy-Award winning documentary, WHEN WE WERE KINGS.

David Smith, Editor

In his 10 years in post-production, David has worked on many features, including THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, VANITY FAIR, and THE NAMESAKE. He is currently working on Mira Nair’s biopic of Amelia Earhart, featuring Hilary Swank. SOUL POWER is David’s feature editorial debut.

CLICK HERE for a zip folder of hi-res 300dpi Soul Power images

Available on DVD and Blu-ray as part of The Masters of Cinema Series on November 16th 2009
Will be available from the following e-tailers:

• Amazon.co.uk
• HMV
• Letterbox DVD
• MovieMail
• Play.com
• Sendit.com

PLUS! Miss Wit Designs Official Zaire '74 and Soul Power film Merchandise available here